Tonight we had a graduation-esque ceremony program bananza. It was a bananza because we had fondue bananas (and strawberries, honey dew, pineapple, and cantaloupe). There’s something about the spelling of “cantaloupe” that just sets me at unease. Nevertheless, the night was an excellent way of ending off another year of Hosanna.
Refreshments aside, the night was quit… well, refreshing. There was award hand outs (for servants of the previous year) and welcoming of new comers and grade sixes. It was fitting for people who have worked and striven (word? yes it is) for a common goal to get some sort of recognition even though that should neither have been their aim nor their sustaining hope. I felt particularly, well, proud of the AV team, half of which I taught to use things myself. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t proud as in, “Look what I managed to train up!” Rather, I was glad to see them make the progression from having undiscovered spiritual gifts to taking hold of what God has made to come naturally to them. I hope I helped to reflect, however dimly, the glory of God through fumbling to teach them what meager skills I have learned.
I think in our church, we don’t do enough encouraging, simply put. Sure, we have recognition of servants (such as the ending ceremony of our past summer retreat) and congratulating (like how we welcome new comers to fellowship or congregational worship) but rarely (IMO) do we ever actually speak, face to face and in a personal manner, words of encouragement to one another. The more we serve alongside one another without this crucial element, the more distant we grow and the more our team efforts to glorify become individual tries for glory. That’s why I want to take this time, as opposed to when I received a PC certificate, to mention brothers and sisters that I’ve failed to encourage along the way.
First off, there’s my aforementioned AV team. Now, this isn’t exactly “my” team but I have taken a certain sense of ownership since I picked them out according to what I think was the Spirit’s compelling and taught them as best as I could with what’s been given to my charge. I’m thrilled that they accepted their invitations to serve behind-the-scenes. Everyone at Jaffray always says that AV guys don’t get enough recognition since they work “behind-the-scenes” (it’s always the phrase they/we choose to use to describe their positions) and to an extent, that’s true. I’ve never been too frustrated with this since it’s not the reason I serve and should never be anyone’s reason to serve.AV guys do have to put up with a lot sometimes, since often things don’t go as planned (an AV man’s worst fear is miscommunication with the ones in the spotlight, IMO) or things are sprung on them at the last minute. This isn’t exactly fair but it is something that happens a lot. Although my AV guys probably won’t ever read this, I want them to remember to carry with them a spirit of humility and alertness as they go on to AV it up for the coming year. Doing audio/visual stuff so much has taught me to expect the unexpected and always be ready in wait for problem solving on the fly, both of which are Biblical practices if you ask Matthew 25‘s virgins. Be swift, be diligent, be alert, and above all else, be patient with worship leaders who don’t send you song lists until the night before.
I want to now talk about the guys I’ve grown up with, who are dearest to me above all other brothers. There’s something that cannot be replaced between myself and these fellow young men that I wouldn’t trade for any other company amongst men. It’s no secret that I enjoy being with them, but it is probably less obvious just how much I treasure the ease with which we can speak in truth, love, and honesty with one another. I’ve heard of friends who need to warm up with one another before they can really get to “the good stuff” but I’ve never had that prerequisite with the closest of my friends and for that I’m thankful. If there’s one thing that’s not hard for us, it’s cutting straight through the bullseye and getting to the issue.We’ve had some very awkward times of mixed feelings towards one another and maybe even some more treacherous moments, but all in all we’ve come through a whack load of stuff as a small (and that’s key IMO) company of friends with the commonality of being in Christ. They say people you meet and friends you make in high school become your lifelong friends, and I’m sure that’s not far off base for most people, but the friends I’ve, not made but, been blessed with in Christ are ones for eternity. If there’s one place I can go to, if I ever need to, for anything, it’s the company of these few but fantasmaltose intolerant friends.
Then there are the girlfriends. Yes, plural, because I have more than one (my dear old, but not that old at all, mum) friend who happens to be a girl (although my mom is secretly a woman who is actually a blessing in a very bad disguise). I’ve got sisters who come and go in terms of closeness (that has probably more to do with their biological construct than anything) but who also tend to teach me a ton of things about myself and the opposite sex. Disregard my use of the naughty word and please stay focused. Hey, buddy, my entry is up here.Jokes aside, God made us in two genders, each with very specific roles to fulfill. I’ve come to learn about some of the great benefits as well as difficulties in having more than superficial relations with girls. I’m constantly being badgered by them into being more polite, less uncouth, more sensitive, less obnoxious, more mindful, less arrogant, more caring, less lewd, more loving, less angry, more gentle, less rude, more embracing, less close-minded, and so forth ad infinitum. Girls are picky, stringent and critically minded, which are all good things in the right context (just read God’s instructions found in Leviticus and Numbers).
There are a few girls I learn lots of things from, some of which are my superiors and others my peers and still others my… younger-than-me’s. I’m eventually thrilled when you attempt to correct my behaviour through your nag-tactics. Even though I don’t always agree with how my sisters go about this (which can be wholly, rather than just slightly, ungraceful and thus momentarily ineffective at times), I do appreciate the fact that you’re looking out for me. I would rather be hurt but at least rebuked than hurt at having gone without rebuke. Of course, we all hope for truthful and discerned correction that comes from gracious lips but I suppose that is not always blessed unto us.
Lastly I want to encourage Arthur, who is my pastor. Although he may be young (and I, obviously, younger), he has one quality that I have always found to be worth much admiration. The man is determined. He has his heart set on things that have yet to be. Contentment is fine and good (Phil. 4:11) but also being motivated to hope for more, for better, for greater fulfillment of God’s promises is also asked of us (1 Pet. 1:6-9). I’ve spent a good deal of time getting to know him through serving on PC and although I do not agree with him, his way of doing things or his opinion on many issues, I do appreciate his fervent love for his flock of people who don’t always return the affection. He may not always be the most stellar example what one might usually expect of someone serving in such a weighty capacity, but he is still young, still learning, and still growing. It is thus unfair to forever and severely hold against him instances when he’s missed the mark (Psa. 25:7).For awhile now, I’ve held a certain grudge against him for having been excessively preachy with me (ironic, since his main occupation is to preach) and now I see that, although my view might have been partially correct, my view was also tainted with stubbornness and rebelliousness. I don’t know why this change of views is suddenly taking place in me, but I’m glad I can put some of this resentment to rest. I hope that Arthur can continue to offer up spiritual direction and father-like reproach for the youth of Hosanna, however unrepentant and rebellious we have been and may continue to be, so as to build up a generation of people with character inspired by Biblical teaching and not human standards. I don’t know whether Arthur will be reading this (I suspect him to be a stalker of sorts) but if he does, may he be encouraged by it and not put off by my frankness above.
By the end of this post, I’ve said very much and know that this is where I must end it for now. We’ve got to edify more in an intentional and heart-felt manner at Jaffray and this has been my attempt at doing so. Thanks for reading and I hope I’ve said meaningful things (and not idle words) for you today.PS: For any Hosanna bre’jin reading this, I’m glad to have you reading and I am expectant for God to greatly bless your (sadly, previously our) fellowship in the year to come. It’s with much sadness and reluctance that I, and the rest of the “graduates” I’m sure, must be leaving you to go wherever God has placed for us. And remember to remain in Christ as He remains in you.